The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2409, 21 December 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1870.

Mu. T. B. Gillies, Superintendent of Auckland, has been frequently referred to, .and claimed indifferently as an opponent and supporter of the Ministerial scheme of Immigration and Public Works, as suited best the views of the speakers. The general soundness of his views is unquestioned, and therefore, as his own expression of them may tend to guide many who have heard very imperfect statements of the facts, we present them to our readers in lieu of a leader :

“ The original scheme was this ; That there should be £6,000,000 borrowed for railways, immigration, Ac.— that is, for immigration and public works ; but afterwards there was to bo a considerable amount more, amounting to £10,000,000 altogether, the liability to be incurred by money not borrowed, but the work should be done by guarantee. In effect, the modification was, that the money-borrowing should be less, but the guarantee-bor-rowing should be more. If any one doubts my word, I have here the Acts, to show what the Government are authorised to borrow. They are authorised to borrow on behalf of railways, £1,000,000. They arc authorised to borrow £1,000,000 for defence purposes ; for immigration and public works they arc empowered to expend £7,500,000 either in the shape of money or of guarantee to the making of railways, in addition to all other things, and in addition to two millions and a half acres of land. Now these are the facts of the case. Under this so-called scheme, which is not a now scheme, I wish you distinctly to remember this large amount is to be raised in some way, Heie are the Acts of the Assembly. This is no longer a mere proposal ; it is law. Here is the Act of the Assembly. It is no use now approving or disapproving. The whole thing has become law. Now all we have to do is to see that the law shall be honestly and fairly carried out. After a few days it became evident that the thirst for borrowing had become too strong. There was no use anyone saying a word against borrowing unlimited millions. It was evident the House had tasted blood (cheers and laughter) and must have more.—(Cheers.) Consequently, the proposals of the Government were accepted • without any division of the House. It was evident to myself, and to every other member, that there was no use dividing en these proposals. There would be a very large majority for borrowing as much as could be borrowed. The question now is, to spend it in the best way we can for the good of the country. When I saw that such was the temper of the House, I determined that the experiment should be honestly carried out. 1 would not leave myself open to the reproach of interfering with the policy of the Government. From that day—from the moment the House decided upon going forward with this policy— I say deliberately from that time forward I was a consistent supporter of the Ministry in their proposals. It is a little amusing to find myself held up as an opponent of the Government scheme, seeing that from the moment the House accepted the scheme I supported them in every division. I say the documents are hero to show it. 1 tell you I was distrustful of the manner in which this expenditure was to be carried out. When I found they made a mistake in the estimates of £25,000, I say I besame distrustful how these millions would be expended, when I found this mistake brought forward from one column to another, as it is hero. It gees right through the financial statement. I say again I could not bo satisfied that there was likely to be very great care taken in the expenditure of these millions. If anyone in this meeting wishes to verify my statement, he can have this document. It is a mistake that I called attention to in the House, and which never, to this day, has been explained. But seeing that the proposals had been accepted, it became my fixed duty, my sole idea, to take care that this Province should have its fair share of this expenditure. I applied myself to that object alone. It may be that I have not succeeded in my object to the extent I could wish. But I believe I have succeeded as far as it was possible. I have succeeded in getting a promise ; that is all that has come yet. There is a scheme and a promise. The Province will be called to see those millions when they come. The question now is how to work this policy out, safely and honestly, judiciously and economically— (cheers) —without squandering tliis money on billets of one sort and another ; squandering it in the wondrous way that only Governments can squander money. We are now to see where wo arc to get the able administrators to look after and

control tliis expenditure, so that the money may not be squandered as people have seen millions, I won’t say millions, but thousands and thousands of pounds of public money borrowed—thrown away and wasted.” Let Otago elect men to watch over Otago’s interests.